Friday, 23 July 2010

A vodka watermelon sounds like something you'd find at a frat party, which is partly why I wanted to bring one to a friend's barbecue. Because frat parties are fun, right? Here's how it's done...

Vodka Watermelon

Take a large watermelon, use a knife to cut a hole in the side and scoop out some of the innards. Stick an open bottle of half-full vodka into the hole and leave for a few hours until the booze has drained into the fruit. Remove the empty bottle, cover the hole in cling film and place the watermelon in the fridge for at least 24 hours to allow the vodka to soak in. Remove from fridge and cut into slices. Eat warily.

The result, pictured top, was interesting. Luckily it was a scorcher of an afternoon, so cold fruit was in demand. The end of the watermelon, which we got to first, tasted only faintly of vodka, with the alcohol increasingly making its presence felt the further we got to the centre of the fruit. Perhaps leaving it a little longer before eating may have allowed the vodka to osmose more effectively. Nevertheless, a fine party trick, if not a greatest hit.